Albertsons sales tick up, loss narrows in 1Q

Albertsons Cos. grew sales by 1.9% and identical store sales by 2.9% in the fiscal first quarter ended June 18, the company said in an updated stock prospectus filed with federal regulators Friday.

Sales for the 16-week period totaled $18.4 billion, Albertsons said. The company posted a $134 million loss for the period on an actual basis, and a $43 million loss on a pro-forma basis. The loss narrowed from the same period last year, when Albertsons lost $153 million.

The company filed the prospectus in advance of a planned initial public offering. The company reiterated plans to sell 65.3 million shares of stock at a prosed price of $23 to $26 per share in the offering.